How an English cottage got a new look from old materials

Let's redefine what “recycled” materials mean in a modern context. It's the act of going to a house or building salvage store and reusing the same materials in a practical (and hopefully beautiful) way. The idea of ​​reuse was introduced to Lee, founder of Bert & May, a company specializing in hand-poured artisan tiles, when he was restoring his family's Georgian holiday home in north-east England. -It was a top priority in every decision Mr. Thornley made.

The property is located on the River Ouse and overlooks the countryside. Located in York's Conservation Village, it's a place where conservation equals conservation. Thornley and her husband bought a circa-1820s semi-detached house with two kitchens, two staircases and everything else. Think of it as an American duplex.. “Despite being over 3,000 square feet, it felt eerie and like a small space crowded together,” Thornley says. Their goal was to transform the house into a single-family home that would work for her family of four and her two dogs and respect the surrounding natural environment.

While the exterior had to maintain its historic charm in accordance with conservation village regulations, the interior needed a lot of work to make it work. “The idea of ​​ripping it apart is dangerous, but the internal walls were never a feature,” Thornley says. “The beams, the stone, the brick, the fireplace, these are the features. So our opinion was, 'Let's take it back and see what's underneath.' That was the exciting part: Many of its original features were hidden under generations of renovations.'' In this case, though, what fell down had to be put back up again. By knocking down walls, Thornley rethought the structure of the house, allowing him to add four en-suite bedrooms and an additional bath. He was particular about restoring the house using salvaged materials in what was truly a labor of love.

“I think we all have an obligation to stop buying things we don't need,” Thornley says. “If you have the privilege of paying to do interiors like we did, I don't think it's right to think of this as a choice. I wish there were beautiful materials out there already.” There, people need to use it. ” This mantra can be seen in living form throughout the house. Reclaimed tiles and wood, salvaged beams (found and stored in place), vintage furniture from 1st Dibs and Vinterior, and his two fireplaces discovered hidden behind walls.

This home officially has seven fireplaces, five of which are in working order. “Oh my god, we need a full-time person to put the wood on the fire,” Thornley says, joking.

When reuse wasn't an option, they worked with brands known for creating heritage-worthy products. In addition to using Bert & May's own artisan tiles throughout, we partnered with Devol for the kitchen design and Samuel Heath for the joinery. The entire home is ultimately a testament to honoring the best of the past and making it work well into the future. “We wanted to create a home that felt like a sanctuary. Life is too short to go home and take pictures for Instagram,” says Thornley. “I want to go home and open a bottle of wine.”

lobby

The entrance to this “new” single-family home is the original door in the center. During the cold winter months, everyone can cozy up here thanks to the fireplace stove.

living room

During renovation work, structural steel beams that were essentially supporting the top floor were discovered. “Rather than making the more obvious decision of lowering the ceiling and putting up drywall, we actually found some reclaimed wood and covered that beam with a mock version of the same size beam next to it for symmetry. “It feels like it's always been there,” Thornley said.

kitchen

Rather than work with a designer to custom design a complete kitchen, Thornley turned to Devol's expertise and superior craftsmanship. He chose Haberdasher for his kitchen, a collection of unpainted modular oak cabinetry inspired by mid-century English interiors.

Naturally, as Bert & May's owner, Thornley had access to the beautiful tiles that were used in abundance on the floors, walls, and fireplace facades in the kitchen and throughout the house. Although Carrara marble was the material of choice for the countertops and Tuscan farmhouse sink, Thornley intentionally modified the surfaces directly around the wet zone.

When asked why he chose copper, he says: “Well, unlike humans, I think humans get uglier as they age, but I love materials that become more beautiful with age. That's why I think tiles look more and more beautiful to me.'' , because it gets tanned over the years and gets worn out. That's why I don't like materials that are made because it's a hassle to keep them looking new. I always think this way. How can I make this look as good as it did on day one? Copper ages beautifully over time, becoming engraved with different shapes and different markings. It's like having a beautiful old leather jacket on your worktop. ”

Home appliances: Smeg. tile: Bart and May. kitchen: Devol. jig: Samuel Heath.

Eat-in kitchen

A reclaimed dining table sits opposite the kitchen island, near a fireplace covered in reclaimed tiles. Through the open doorway is a small “TV lounge room” where the family hangs out before and after dinner.

primary suite

To transform the former living room into the ideal retreat for adult catch-ups, Thornley built a huge wall to look out over the garden and countryside and added wood paneling to the ceiling to raise the room's height. I have increased the quality. A freestanding claw-foot bathtub is located opposite the bed and is the perfect place to soak after a long day.

daughter's bedroom

My youngest of two daughters already loves design. She mood-boarded the entire space referencing her bohemian style and nude color palette, and the wicker bed defined the style. Thornley jokes that her oldest daughter has no interest in design. “You could literally paint her oldest daughter's room purple and she wouldn't notice,” he says. “On the other hand, if you buy a flowerpot that doesn't fit, her youngest son might say, 'That's not my style.'”

daughter's bath

Bert & May's green marble and green mahada on the floor complement the faded color of the pine doors. Thornley jokes that the original door was a bit impractical. “They never stop spanking, because they're so thin, they don't have a lot of insulation, they have holes in them. In some cases, they don't even really need a door in there. You can even see it right there.''They…but hey, they look good, right?!''

guest bath

“The guest bathroom was inspired by my love of Spain, so two reclaimed marble vanities were a must, and everything was built around these features in the space. ” says Thornley.

Q&A

beautiful house: What was your previous house like?

Lee Thornley: The house had the remains of two previous cottages with two staircases, two kitchens, and many small rooms above and below. It just wasn't practical for our young family. We knew this building had the potential for more, but felt it needed a complete renovation to create more open space. The aim was to celebrate all the characters behind the false ceilings and plastered walls. We wanted to create a beautiful family home, a forever home for ourselves and our two girls.

HB: What is the reason or inspiration for your new design? How do you achieve your vision?

LT: The design goal was to create a stylish family home centered around nature. We both love the outdoors, so bringing a garden into our home was a big focus.

Our priority was to uncover the architectural bones of the home and assess how they could be incorporated into the design. The entire ceiling on the second floor was removed, exposing the vaulted ceiling and original beams. Some people felt that high ceilings created a cave-like feel, but we decided to go with this.

We also removed all the interior walls and began converting the second floor into four en-suite bedrooms. The main bedroom used to be the living room, but we decided to turn it into a suite overlooking the garden.

I asked the Bert & May design team to design each bathroom based on a mood board. The kids (and we) each created a mood board to show how we wanted our space to look and feel.

HB: How did you incorporate the tiles?

LT: Tiles used in the kitchen include Moroccan zellige on the floor and backsplash, and reclaimed tiles on the chimney breast. We wanted the floor to have a neutral palette but rich in texture. Each tile is handmade, so there are many imperfections, but that's what makes them so beautiful. The patterned tiles on the chimney breast are very bold and brave, making them a true work of art. The children chose their own tiles and had very clear ideas of what they wanted to achieve.

HB: How did you save money, DIY, or get crafty? Please be as detailed as possible.

LT: One of the key cost-saving measures was the decision to expose and preserve the original flagstone flooring. Additionally, in the process he discovered two fireplaces, which he decided to leave untouched. We also found some beams that add character to the space. Rather than remove them, we incorporated them into the design. This meant they were able to emphasize the home's architectural details and keep costs down.